Earth(46)

Another person shoved, and the entire line, ending at me, was pushed forward. "Please?" My eyebrows rose in desperation. "I missed chow last night and I'm on a working party today."

More shouting down the line.

The server clenched his jaw, and huffed. "Fine, but half-rats." He slopped a large pile of stew with meat chunks on my plate and added a clean roll. It was burned on the bottom.

I gave him my best smile, showing plenty of white. "Thanks!"

I returned to the eating logs, finished my meal alone, and went back to Erika's camp. I was going to have to figure something else out for food. I couldn't keep feigning clumsiness.

When I returned to the tent, I found my corner cot occupied. A girl, with an ankle swelling up to the size of a softball, lay there groaning.

Erika walked up behind me. "Sorry. You've been relocated due to the uneven ground the night guard gets to patrol on."

"Okay…" I wasn't looking forward to another day of staring at the fabric roof anyway. "Where should I go?"

She turned, motioning me to follow. We walked back outside. "My perimeter is marked off by the blue tents in a sort of semi-circle. No one crosses into them unless they’re new…or desperate." She looked me over.

I’m both, I thought, in case she was wondering.

"Anyway, this one is yours. No tent-mate for the time being, but that might change."

I peeked inside. A sleeping bag and pillow were there. Other than that, it barely looked large enough for another person. I couldn't complain – I'd been sleeping in open air the past year. At least this way there would be no mosquitos.

I straightened back up and looked at her, "Thanks."

"I've also got your assignment."

I swallowed, hard, as the smell from the latrines wafted over.

"Admin. Specifically, an assistant to an admin clerk."

"Oh – ok." I relaxed, having prepared myself for the worst. "What does that entail, exactly?"

She crossed her arms. "Sitting at a desk, reporting on numbers of Elementals, supplies, or whatever around camp."

That sounded like a headquarters sort of deal; might make for a higher chance of running into Shawn.

Erika continued, "They keep pretty close tabs on the prisoners. You know, in case you were curious about that sort of thing."

My eyes widened, and before I could stop myself, I threw my arms around her. "You are the best."

She stumbled back, her cheeks red. "Okay, okay. Just remember – I may need the favor returned someday."





Chapter 27





Tonight





"Reporting for admin duty," I announced to the first person who looked my way once I walked into the cordoned off area. He surveyed me from head to toe.

Should I salute or—

"Are you new? They don't usually send the newbies to admin duty." He stood from behind two pushed-together crates that made a makeshift desk. It was covered in papers.

"I'm not that new." I put my hand on my hip. "I've been assigned as Jason's assistant. They said he needed one."

"Oh, well – unfortunately Jason was injured in that last battle. He's in the sick bay for at least two weeks. Which means…" The man turned back to the crates, searching under the stacks of papers for something. "Jason needs a temporary replacement."

I caught a few sheets that floated off, and gave them back.

In return, he handed me a red armband. "Which means you've just been promoted."

I glanced around the area. Everyone working there wore a red band above their blue. I took it from him and ran it up my arm. "Thanks – I think."

"You probably won't be thanking me after your first day. Here – you can get started with these inquiries." He handed me a new stack of papers, and pointed to an unoccupied crate.

I nodded, took my place and began my new job. In a way, it was more exhausting than covering thirty miles a day. Inquiries kept arriving – and I had to answer them, or find someone to answer them for me. The kitchen needed to know how many days' worth of tomatoes our mobile garden had. The guards needed to know how many more days we were staying at camp so they could work out a sentry schedule. The medics needed more cloth bandages.

Jason was also apparently responsible for daily reports which included Elemental counts, prisoner counts, food storage, fresh water tracking, and more. But for a spy, there was no better place to be.

Someone set several lists in front of me.

"What's this?" I asked.

"Daily chow roster. You need to double check names and add new recruits; then deliver to the kitchens."

I nodded. "Okay, thanks."

Score!

I scribbled my name in between two others. After adding several new Elementals to the end of the list, I left the admin tent to deliver the lists.